The plan (part 1)

Megamind arrived in the musty Brass Bugle just before sunset. He found it devoid of a certain female character that he was growing more attached to every day. He pondered what could possibly take her so long in that dreadful mans house or wherever she may be. He paced the floor for a long time listening so carefully for Roxanne's footsteps that his ears were ringing. The sounds of evening began to stir below him. Rowdy men who were slowly becoming drunk sang out-of-tune lyrics and cat called the few women that worked the floor.

The darkening sky caused both the cyan hued biped and his ichthyoid companion to become distressed. Megamind's thoughts whirred in a downward spiral to one conclusion as the minutes ticked by, and the more he thought about it the more disturbed he became.

"Roxanne must be in some sort of trouble," he said aloud, "she wouldn't be out this late without some sort of notification."

"I agree, Sir," the softly glowing fish said, "should we start looking at Mirth's mansion?"

"It's the last place we know she was seen, but I doubt they'll tell us anything of great importance," Megamind huffed. He pulled on his new black coat adorned with all sorts of buckles and straps and turned the collar up so it nearly enveloped his slender neck, before storming out into the night.

He was walking at a break neck pace through the streets, his usually animated face a mask of determination. When he asked to see Mirth, his tone was deadly. The servant rushed to his master as if hell had sent its hounds snapping at his heels. He did not have to wait long to be beckoned forward by the same tamed pup as before. He led them to a lavish sitting room that featured mostly warm browns and greens. The lord of the mansion came striding in moments later, his white hair flowing freely and his jacket rumpled.

"It seems I'm intruding on your nightly activities," Megamind said as calmly as he could to the disheveled man, "so I'll make this brief. One of my companions has gone missing, and I have reason to believe that you might know where he is."

"And that would be," he asked innocently.

"Richard Ritchi," Megamind nearly growled.

"Ah yes! Mr. Ritchi came by earlier. How silly of me to forget," Mirth said lightly.

"You are the one who sent for him, Mr. Mirth. I would assume you'd remember."

Mirth shook his head with amusement, "do you have any idea how many people I have to see every day, Mr. Price? I'm a very busy man with a very tight schedule. As important as I am I can't keep track of every single person I have to attend to. Besides, he's probably out enjoying a cold one, or perhaps the company of a lovely lady?" Mirth raised his angular brows suggestively.

This man made Megamind's blood want to boil over. Though the urge to lunge at him was quite strong, he managed to hold his composure even as they were ousted from the mansion.

"She's in there", Megamind said darkly to Minion once they were on the busy street again, "I know she is."

"How are we going to get to her, Sir?"

"Well first we need a plan," Megamind said grinning to himself, his scheming mind already in motion, "a plan so brilliant that it radiates success."

0o0o0o0o0o

A large dark figure crept around to the normally busy house of Dr. Tim Osher. Stealing through the back door after picking the lock, he entered the portion of the house that had been converted into a doctor's office of sorts. He sorted through some labeled vials, taking a few from a case in a high cupboard before he slunk down the narrow hallway and entered the first room. Finding that it belonged to the good Doctor's master, whom was fast asleep, he snuck in with vial in hand. His bulky metal body bumped the overly littered coffee table, nearly knocking over a full ash tray. He caught it just in time, but spilt the ashes all over the laundry strewn floor. Resisting the urge to clean it up, he armed the vial with a needle. He stealthily pricked the slumbering slob and injected the sleep inducing formula into his veins. Satisfied that the mountain of cellulite was going to stay at rest, Minion removed his stalking cap and sigh with relief. The black cap had severely handicapped his ability to see so he thought it best to just do away with it for now.

Minion then went to the next room. It was small and cramped and had only a mattress and a thin blanket, which Dr. Osher wrapped himself in while trying to rest. Minion roused the bewildered doctor, telling him he was going to help him escape. Once Minion had cut his tether they rushed down the hall only to find a staggering heap of a man blocking their way.

"Where do you think you're going," he boomed, taking a swing at Minion's dome and missing. Minion ducked away and pushed the petrified Grey behind him. The grunting man started to sway, "you little grey-little-piece a-I'ma beat you-ugh," he smacked his lips in a revolting fashion before hitting the ground with a rumbling thud. Both the piscine and the skinny Grey sigh in relief.

"Thank you," Dr. Osher thought at Minion, "quick thinking, my fishy friend."

"Don't thank me, thank Megamind," Minion said proudly.

"Megamind," he questioned.

"He's the one that came up with the plan, and we rescued you in order to ask for your help."

"I see," the Grey snorted, "giving to get."

Minion flailed his arms, "No, no, no! You've got it all wrong! You don't have to help us, but we'd be most appreciative if you did."

The doctor chuckled softly, "don't worry your bolts off, kid. You helped me so it's the least I could do."

They found Megamind outside the seedy little tavern they agreed to meet at. A teary eyed Blossom stood silently at his side in a cloaked midnight blue mans uniform.

"Dr. Tim Osher," Megamind said somberly as he shook his hand, "thank you for coming."

"Thank you for sending Minion to rescue me, Mr. Mind," Dr. Osher thought at Megamind, "he was brilliant."

Megamind gave a weak smile, "Your welcome, and please, Megamind is fine."

Tim nodded, "so what's this about Richard getting kidnapped? Sounds like serious business."

"It is just that," Megamind replied, "we need to rescue him soon, or I fear we might be too late. I was hoping that the two of you would like to join in the hunt for the parts we need to complete our teleportation device so we can get off this blasted rock after rescuing Richard. We'll need to after this is over."

Blossom and Tim looked at one another for a moment before nodding in acknowledgement.

"Okay," Megamind said with a grin, "here's what we are going to do."